The Open Video Alliance is teaming up with the Harvard Berkman Center to deliver a global webcast of a talk by Lawrence Lessig. It’s happening February 25th from 6:00 to 7:30 EST, live from Cambridge, MA. OVA has arranged screening events around the world. The hometown premiere event in New York will feature a live DJ, video mashup presentations, free food and tons of guests.

The Talk:
This is a talk about copyright in a digital age, and the role (and importance) of a doctrine like “fair use.” Fair use allows limited use of copyrighted material without requiring permission from the rights holders, and is essential for commentary, criticism, news reporting, remix, research, teaching and scholarship with video. As a medium, online video will be most powerful when it is fluid, like a conversation. Like the rest of the internet, online video must be designed to encourage creative expression and political participation, not just passive consumption.

The lecture will last 45 minutes and will be followed by an interactive Q & A. The event will be moderated by Elizabeth Stark of the Open Video Alliance. Questions can be submitted using the hashtag #wireside.

The Event:
In New York, the event held at The Open Planning Project will feature special guests from the ReMixed Media Festival 2010, and Streetfilms.